Implantable medical lead with shield

Abstract

An example impkintable medical lead includes a first defibrillation electrode and a second, defibrillation electrode, the first and second, defibrillation electrodes configured to deliver first electrical therapy comprising anti tachyarrhythmia shocks. The implantable medical lead also includes a pace electrode disposed longitudinally between the first defibrillation electrode and the second defibrillation electrode, the pace electrode configured to deliver a pacing pulse that generates an electric field proximate to the pace electrode. The implantable medical lead further includes an inflatable shield disposed over a portion of an outer surface of the pace electrode, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to extend laterally away from the pace electrode upon inflation, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to impede an electric field of at least, one of the first and second the electrical therapies in a direction away from a heart of the patient.

1 : An implantable medical lead comprising:
 a first defibrillation electrode and a second defibrillation electrode, the first and second defibrillation electrodes configured to deliver first electrical therapy;   a pace electrode disposed longitudinally between the first defibrillation electrode and the second defibrillation electrode, the pace electrode configured to deliver a pacing pulse that generates an electric field proximate to the pace electrode; and   an inflatable shield disposed at least over a portion of an outer surface of the pace electrode, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to extend laterally away from the pace electrode upon inflation, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to impede an electric field of at least one of the first and second the electrical therapies in a direction away from a heart of the patient.   
     
     
         2 : The medical device system of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable shield is configured to inflate with at least one of a gas or a liquid. 
     
     
         3 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 2 , wherein the implantable medical lead includes a lumen therein, the lumen coupled with the inflatable shield and configured to provide the gas or the liquid to and from the inflatable shield. 
     
     
         4 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the inflatable shield, upon inflation, is greater than a length of the pace electrode, wherein a width of the inflatable shield, upon inflation, is greater than a width of the pace electrode. 
     
     
         5 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the implantable medical lead comprises the pace electrode and the first and second defibrillation electrodes, wherein a length of the inflatable shield, upon inflation, is greater than a length of the distal portion, wherein a width of the inflatable shield, upon inflation, is greater than a width of the distal portion. 
     
     
         6 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable shield is electrically insulative. 
     
     
         7 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable shield comprises two layers of a polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the implantable medical lead comprises the pace electrode and the first and second defibrillation electrodes, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to move the distal portion towards the heart of the patient upon inflation. 
     
     
         9 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the pace electrode is located on the inflatable shield, and the inflatable shield is configured to move the pace electrode laterally upon inflation. 
     
     
         10 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second defibrillation electrodes and the pace electrode are configured to be aligned substantially along a common axis when the inflatable shield is deflated. 
     
     
         11 : The implantable medical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon shield is configured to move the pace electrode posteriorly towards the heart of the patient when expanded from the first shape to the second shape. 
     
     
         12 : A system comprising:
 an implantable medical lead comprising:
 a first defibrillation electrode and a second defibrillation electrode, the first and second defibrillation electrodes configured to deliver first electrical therapy; 
 a pace electrode disposed between the first defibrillation electrode and the second defibrillation electrode, the pace electrode configured to deliver second electrical therapy comprising pacing pulses; and 
 a lead body defining a lumen configured to guide a needle; 
   an inflatable shield disposed at least over a portion of an outer surface of the pace electrode, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to extend laterally away from the pace electrode upon inflation, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to impede an electric field of at least one of the first and second the electrical therapies in a direction away from a heart of the patient; and   a septum between the lumen and the inflatable shield, the septum configured to form a seal about the needle, wherein the needle is configured to provide at least one of a gas or a liquid to inflate the inflatable shield.   
     
     
         13 : A method comprising:
 positioning an implantable medical lead at an implant location within a patient, wherein the implantable medical lead comprises:
 a first defibrillation electrode and a second defibrillation electrode, the first and second defibrillation electrodes configured to deliver first electrical therapy; 
 a pace electrode disposed longitudinally between the first defibrillation electrode and the second defibrillation electrode, the pace electrode configured to deliver a pacing pulse that generates an electric field proximate to the pace electrode; and 
 an inflatable shield disposed at least over a portion of an outer surface of the pace electrode, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to extend laterally away from the pace electrode in an inflated shape upon inflation, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to impede an electric field of at least one of the first and second the electrical therapies in a direction away from a heart of the patient; and 
   inflating the inflatable shield from a deflated shape to the inflated shape.   
     
     
         14 : The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: inflating the inflatable shield with at least one of a gas or a liquid, wherein the implantable medical lead comprises a lumen therein, the lumen coupled with the balloon shield and configured to provide the gas or the liquid to and from the inflatable shield. 
     
     
         15 : The method of  claim 13 , wherein a length of the inflatable shield, upon inflation, is greater than a length of the pace electrode, wherein a width of the inflatable shield, upon inflation, is greater than a width of the pace electrode. 
     
     
         16 : The method of  claim 13 , wherein a distal portion of the implantable medical lead comprises the pace electrode and the first and second defibrillation electrodes, wherein a length of the inflatable shield, upon inflation, is greater than a length of the distal portion, wherein a width of the inflatable shield, upon inflation, is greater than a width of the distal portion. 
     
     
         17 : The method of  claim 13 , wherein the inflatable shield is electrically insulative, wherein the inflatable shield comprises two layers of a polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 : The method of  claim 13 , wherein a distal portion of the implantable medical lead comprises the pace electrode and the first and second defibrillation electrodes, the method further comprising:
 moving, via inflating the inflatable shield, the distal portion towards the heart of the patient.   
     
     
         19 : The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 moving, via inflating the inflatable shield, the pace electrode laterally.   
     
     
         20 : The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second defibrillation electrodes and the pace electrode are configured to be aligned substantially along a common axis when the inflatable shield is deflated, wherein the inflatable shield is configured to move the pace electrode posteriorly towards the heart of the patient upon inflation.